I Do Not Own Miraculous Ladybug, or any of the songs in this fanfic. Enjoy!***************************************
style="font-family: '.SFUIText-BoldItalic'; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 17.00pt"Breaking News: Absent sources confirm the popular pop artist, 'Volpinia' revealed her civilian identity to be Lila Rossi, here is one of her fans now expressing their excitement on the matter...

"I knew it!" I heard myself exclaim dully, pushing my small fist in the air.

Ahh, Lila Rossi, she was one of my best friends in grade school, then she moved away. Several years later, I had went to most popular kid in school to complete geekasaurous. I was clad in big black glasses, thick bangs, and baggy clothes. I may be a fashion designer, but in school I wasn't that in to being a complete fashionista myself. Anyways, Lila moved back and became close friends with the one and only Chloe Burgious. I tried talking to her, but when she saw my failure of a glow- up, she said she never knew me and joined Chloe's cruel games. Back then I was pushed, shoved, and laughed at, but once I started design school, I quit letting people walk over me, although I did always have one friend, Alya.

Back then, everyone practically worshipped Chloe and her clique. Sabrina, Lila, Nino, Alya, and Adrien, were all in Chloe's cool kid group. Alya and Nino eventually understood Chloe's cruel attitude and became my friends. I always had the worse crush on Adrien.

Adrien Agreste, the perfect guy, he had perfect grades (mine were better though), was perfect at every sport, girls fawned and shoved themselves at him. Naturally, he dated Chloe and Lila, the two most popular girls in school. He never dated Alya, Nino was his best friend and he had the hots for Alya, they live together now. I forgot to mention that Adrien was also the son of world renowned opera singer, Gabriel Agreste.

RING! RING! I stretched across my light pink couch to get my phone.

"Omg, Marinette! Can you believe it! I told you, I knew it!" I giggled at my friend's excitement. "Oh, this is going to make Chat's concert so much better. The press will have a field day!" She shouted. I could see Alya now, dancing around her huge apartment. I rolled my eyes at her last statement. I don't care much for Chat Noir and his antics. I'm his costume designer and every once in a while I have to do a fitting on him.

"Alya, I don't understand how you can stand him. You and your boyfriend both are not only his managers, but his biggest fans. All he ever talks about is making out with hot girls and well, other things." I said skeptically as I sighed, trying to prove my point. I heard a loud chuckle on the other line.

"Hey, what time will you be at the studio tomorrow?" She asked, trying to change the topic. "Probably around five." I said as I yawned and stretched my long, porcelain arms. I looked at the old, red clock I had sitting on a shelf in my apartment. It read nine-thirty two. "Girl, you are crazy. Well I better go. I still have to make a few last minute arrangements for Chat and Volpinia's concert Friday." I closed my eyes, wondering why Paris was so obsessed with two people they didn't even know, or one person they didn't even know. It all seems like a dumb game.

"Okay, Alya don't stay up too late." I said softly as I smiled. I waited for a few seconds. "Alright, see you tomorrow, bye." She replied. "Bye," I said as I pressed the red button, signaling the end of the phone call.

"What am I going to do with her?" I whispered to myself as my feet shuffled across the wood floorboards. I brushed a stray piece of hair out of my freckled face as I stepped into my bathroom. The white tile felt cool against my feet as I threw off my clothes. Before turning on the shower I stared at it, memories flooding my mind. I snapped myself out of it and reached for the knobs.

The sound of dripping water filled my ears while I turned the knobs on the shower. Steam surrounded the small room as I stepped into the tub.

After my own personal concert in the shower, I put on the comfiest pj's I could find and jumped into my soft, sleek sheets and quilts. Before I knew it I was fast asleep, dreaming of sweet heart necklines and empire waists on magnificent gowns.

-line break-

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! My alarm clock chimed. The absolute worse sound in the world. I made a disgruntled and unrecognizable sound as I slowly rose out of my cold, comfy bed. I tottled around the room and stopped at my mirror. My eyes were met with deep purple circles and messy, navy blue hair.

I did my daily routine and got ready for work. I was always the first person to show up. I glanced towards my big bay window that looked out towards the beautiful city of Paris, it was still pitch black outside.

I looked at my cream colored dresser and saw two red hair twisties. How they ended up there I don't know. I hadn't worn them since my third year in lycée. I smiled at my dorky, young self. Maybe... would it look weird? I picked up the stretchy hair accessory and reached for my brush. I easily pulled my hair into two low twin tails. I walked around my room, to my mirror. I couldn't believe how different I looked from my former dorky self. No more humungous glasses, no braces, no more zits. This is the new and improved Marinette. I smiled at myself and gathered all of my things and headed out of my apartment.

Some people may think it's strange, but I walk everywhere I go. It had lightened up where there was a tint of orange in the sky.

As I was wondering what the day would hold, I bumped into someone. It was still pretty dark after all.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay." I asked, still putting my junk back in my purse and bag. The person I ran into fumbled for a moment and then began to laugh. It was a deep chuckle, one that sounds so perfect and warm. "Excuse me, but I don't understand what's so funny about this." I said, trying to gather up the last bits of dignity I had.

I jumped back up on my two feet and my eyes were met with grassy green orbs. Oh no... Angelic, silky blond hair, piercing, beautiful green eyes, and straight, pearly white teeth. Suddenly I was fifteen again. But, his looks weren't everything that made me nervous. What about the shower incident.

"U-um sorry, I should be going." I sputtered out trying to avoid contact. This day is not going to be my best is it? He probably doesn't even no who I am. I was basically a ghost in lycée, even in yearbooks my face was absent. I had thankfully experienced a grow spurt since then.

I felt a strong arm grab mine as I tried to escape my awkward encounter. Uh oh. Please, if I have any good luck left, don't let him remember me. I slowly turned around, giving him a fake smile.

"No need for apologies. I'm sorry to keep you, but have I seen you before?" He said as he let go of my arm. His voice was like angels singing or birds chirping.

I didn't know what to do. I don't want to lie, but then again... "Umm... we were classmates for a little while in lycée." I said, looking down at my light pink flats. Come on Marinette, you don't let people walk all over you anymore, you're twenty- three years old. You've got this.

"Wait, don't tell me um, Marcie right?" the handsome man said. I didn't want him to remember me, but at the same time he didn't even know my name. I felt my poor heart plummet to the bottom of my chest. I looked down at my shoes again, grime and dirt starting to rub on them from the streets.

"Marinette," I corrected, wishing he were a jerk, wishing there was something I could dislike him for. You can't hate someone for seeing you as the ugly shadow you were, right?

"Oh, I'm sorry I thought-" I cut him off, anger seeping into my normally calm attitude.

"You thought I was some hot girl from lycée that simply adored you and hug on your every word. Well, I'm sorry I disappointed you." I blurted out, wishing I were attractive or noticeable. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lash out, goodbye." I said, now feeling guilty. I turned around and as quickly as I could, walked away. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw him frown, but decided he probably didn't.

After beating myself up about my encounter with Adrien the entire walk to work, I was ready to design some new costumes. I reached into my black leather bag and pulled out my sketchbook. I flipped to an empty page and began drawing.

After what seemed like minutes I heard a noise, footsteps maybe. I looked at my phone, only six. Normally my co-workers didn't get here until seven. Something was different. Maybe it's Alya. "Hello?" I said, starting to get creeped out. I put down my 2B pencil and rose out of my wooden chair. Still, no one answered. I walked into the hallway, someone turned off all the lights. I flipped them back on and began to investigate. I took self-defense classes about a year ago, so if need be I can handle myself.

"Hello... Answer me." I shouted, trying to get whoever was here to say something. The lights turned off again. I felt something on my back. I quickly turned around and grabbed the person's arm, twisted it, and flipped them over. I heard a thud on the ground and what sounded like a curse word. I turned the light back on and stared at the person lying in the ground in front of me.

"Jesus Christ. Look you're making me take the Lord's name in vain. Why would you scare me like that?" I yelled, boggled by what just happened. I put my hands on my hips, waiting for an answer while the man groaned and rolled around on the floor. Just because he's a famous pop singer, does not mean that he can go around scaring people like that.

"You're mad at me? At least I didn't break your arm. Where did you learn to do that?" Chat said looking up at me. He was wearing a bright green T-shirt, black jeans, black vans, and a black jacket, with black paint concealing his precious identity.

"Don't tell me your hurt. I'll feel awful, and more importantly, Alya would kill me!" I said, scrambling to pull him up. He laughed at me and excepted my help in pulling him up.

"I'm fine," he replied, brushing himself off. I heard myself let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I walked back to my office, part of me hoping he would follow, and part of me hoping he would jump off a bridge. I heard footsteps behind me, so I guess he's going to follow me.

I sat down in my wooden chair, he sat in a chair right across from me.

"So, are you excited about your concert with Volpinia, or Lila, whatever her name is?" I asked, getting confused. He smiled before he replied," Our relationship isn't what everyone thinks it is. She's not really for me. We went out once and now she thinks we're practically married, although I do love her flute ensembles." He rubbed his neck, almost as if he were nervous. "Something tells me your day hasn't gotten off to the best start, you know besides what happened back there." He inquired, leaning forward to my desk.

Why would he care anyway, I've only met him a few times and he never seemed interested in me before. "It doesn't matter, I guess I should go make sure we have all of your costumes ready for Friday." I said, trying to brush off the topic. He grabbed my arm. I turned around, it was so familiar, just like this morning. I looked into his eyes. Bright green, they were beautiful, all in all Chat was pretty handsome. Wait what?

"Please, I don't have very many people to talk to. I'm just trying to be a friend." he said, with the most concern I've ever heard him manage. Friend? When we're we friends? I guess if he's willing to be kind, so can I.

"Well I know this is hard to believe, but I was a huge nerd in lycée." I said smiling, but grimacing at the same time.

"Not that hard to imagine." Chat laughed, then motioned me to continue.

After my smile faded, I said," I wore the baggiest clothes, had more zits than everyone in the school combined, I was forced to wear the biggest glasses anyone had ever seen in their life, and I had the bulkiest braces. They were so bad, even when I tried my hardest, I couldn't put my lips together. All that being said, I want considered the most attractive person in the school." I said, trying to sound sarcastic, wishing it wouldn't get to me. Chat smiled, almost as if he knew what I was talking about and motioned for me to continue my story.

"Well, it's pretty predictable. Ugly girl has a crush on gorgeous guy, is never noticed, dies with nine cats. End of story." I muttered truthfully.

"There's got to be more to the story than that." Chat whined like a five year old. I looked at him, unsure. Why was I opening up to him. I'm not the weak, naive Marinette I used to be.

"Okay, okay, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone." I said in a serious tone. Chat made a crossing motion on his chest and grinned,"Cat's honor."

I rolled my eyes and began where I left off. "You obviously know Lila," I asked. He shook his head. "Well, when I was about five, I was popular, considered a cute kid, afraid of cooties. Lila and I were besties, we did everything together, practically sisters. One day her family packed up and left, I barely got to say goodbye. Well years later, after my not-so-fabulous transformation, Lila and her family moved back to Paris." I said gloomily, trying not to sound sad. "Anyways, I tried talking to her, tried to pick up from where we left off, but once she saw how much I was hated, she grew close with Chloe and her clique. They all played mean jokes and pranks on me. Eventually, Alya and Nino felt sorry for me and became my friends. We still are today. But, there was one particular incident. It was the day before summer break. The whole school was at an assembly. I was late that day and didn't have time to take a shower that morning. So, I slipped into the girl's locker room and started the shower, I was singing 'Listen To Your Heart'. I wasn't bad at singing or anything, just so shy about it." I said, shivering at the bad memories that came flooding back.

"I continued to pour my little teenage heart out, singing my song. What I didn't notice was that Chloe and her friends had tampered with the projector at the assembly, so whatever she took a video of would show up on the projector." I started to stare at nothing, as if it was happening all over again. I would have forgotten he was there if he hadn't cleared his throat.

"Well, she, Sabrina, and Lila had video cameras that were all pointed at me. The whole school heard me singing. And when they finally got close enough," I stopped, I didn't know if I could tell him, he didn't want to hear this. "You don't want to hear this." I said with a fake smile, turning my gaze to the floor.

He put a hand on my arm and looked at me, as if he were looking into my soul and said," I want to know, unless you don't want me too."

"Okay, well, they uh. They, pulled the shower curtain back. Once I realized, it was too late. Not only my voice, but my naked body had been broadcasted to the entire school. And guess what, nothing happened. Since Chloe's 'daddy' is the mayor, they all got out of trouble, not even a scolding." I said anger and sadness, bubbling inside me.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, almost as if he had done something wrong. I felt tears in my eyes, but crying was the last thing I would do. I straightened myself and took a deep breath. I am fine.

"I'm perfectly fine, that was years ago." I whispered, trying to convince myself. "I saw him today. He didn't even remember me. He didn't remember what his friends did to me. I don't blame him though. I told myself I forgave him a long time ago. Everyone makes mistakes." I said, sounding sympathetic. I brushed a curl that wouldn't fit in my pigtails, out of my face and behind my ear.

"Well, I bet you have a lovely singing voice, princess." Chat said in a low voice. Suddenly my face began to grow hot. I hope he can't see my cheeks, and where did 'princess' come from?

"Well Chat, I believe we are officially friends. And next time it's your turn to tell me your tragic back story." I said, giggling.

"We'll see," he replied with a smirk. He then strutted out of my office and left me shaking my head.

-line break-

About forty-five minutes later everyone started to arrive and get busy. Today was Wednesday, and the concert was Friday. I was head of his costume design team, and I, so graciously,
style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 17pt;"got the opportunity to make Volpinia's costume as well as Chat Noir's. Her costume was a two-piece. It had a one shoulder neckline and was bright orange. She had a skirt with a flowy back and she would wear ridiculously high, high heel, black, knee-length
boots. She'll look reallyfoxy in this outfit. I burst out laughing at the joke I kept to myself and earned some stares from around the room.

A few hours after lunch, Volpinia's costume was ready for Friday night. Hmm. I wonder. I mean, it would be just for fun, right? I picked up my pencil and began sketching in my book.

About an hour later I had the design perfected. It was a simple two-piece with a bateau neckline and high waisted shorts, it did show the belly button. It was made out of red sequins and through out the outfit there were clusters of black dots, making it look almost like a ladybug. And to finish it off, a pair of red, high top, Chuck Taylors.

"Mari," I heard a feminine voice call as someone knocked at my open door. I slammed my sketchbook shut. "Hey Alya," I said with as much casualty as I could.

Before I could do anything, Alya ran in my office, grabbed my sketchbook and opened it to the design I had been working on.

"Alya, please give me it back. I was just drawing it for fun." I said, trying to make her feel guilty. I should have known better. "Girl, you should totally make this," she said, looking up from my design.

"You think so? I don't know when I would wear it." I said, trying to grab my sketchbook from her.

"Totally, we could go dancing or something," she shouted, as she started dancing around my office.

"Great, I can be a third wheel and watch you and Nino make out all night." I replied, as I gathered all my things. Alya rolled her eyes and sat down in one of my chairs.

"I've got everything ready for Friday night. I just need to double check tomorrow." I said, trying to take some of the stress off of Alya.

"I'm so excited! Aren't you? Or do you still think he is annoying?" Alya asked, as she put her head in her hand.

"Actually, we had a long conversation this morning after he scared the crap out of me. I think we may be friends." I said smiling at the thought of our conversation.

"Oh really," Alya raised her eyebrows and winked at me. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

-line break-

After I walked home from work it was five-thirty. I was meeting my parents at six for dinner, every Wednesday night I go to my parent's bakery and eat dinner with them.

I looked through my closet and pulled out an old T-shirt and changed into some comfortable jeans.

After I changed, I grabbed my purse and started walking towards my parent's bakery.

By the time I got there it was about five-forty-five. The walk only takes about five minutes from my apartment.

I stepped inside the memory-filled bakery and heard the familiar sound of a bell jingling. I smiled and walked up to the register. I heard my father shout,"We'll be with you in a moment." From the kitchen. I laughed and looked around. It smelled as good as it always had, but today it was even better, I've missed this place.

A big, brown haired man with a mustache, walked out from the kitchen and ran towards me. The man picked me up and slung me around like a rag doll. I wrapped my small arms around his humongous neck and nuzzled into him.

"Oh dad, I've missed you and mom so much. It feels like forever since I've seen you." I said as he started to let me go. Before I knew it my mother, tiny and petite (just like me) was running up to me and giving me wet, sloppy kisses.

"Marinette. I love you so much. You need to stop by more often." My mom said as she squeezed my cheeks. I laughed and hugged my mom and dad again.

"Dinner is almost ready. Would you mind watching the counter?" My father asked. I looked at him as though he knew the answer.

Nobody came in, or at least not at first. Right when I finished drawing a picture of a cat on the glass with my finger on one of the display cabinets a bell chimed. I looked up, as if I was caught doing a crime and replied with a sweet "Welcome to the Dupain-Cheng Boulangerie Patisserie." Then the customer turned around.